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The merit-aid verdict at Hendrix
Hendrix gives every admit a holistic Hendrix College Scholarship ($20,000 and up) plus $2,000 performance/service awards that require on-campus housing; the El Dorado Murphy Foundation award is a full-ride that replaces prior Hendrix merit.
Common merit-aid mistakes at Hendrix
The Esports, UMYF Leadership, Miller Center Service, and Performing & Fine Arts scholarships each carry an explicit 'On-Campus Housing Required' condition.
For the three competitively selected El Dorado recipients, the Murphy Foundation award is last-dollar and REPLACES any previously awarded Hendrix merit-based aid; only the $4,000 consolation Murphy award is additive.
The Hendrix College Scholarship is stated as '$20,000 and up' from a holistic review — a floor, not a published amount; there is no public GPA/test grid guaranteeing a specific number.
Hendrix publishes a $56,400 direct-cost (tuition+fees+housing+food) total and a separate full 9-month on-campus COA of $61,880 that adds books, loan fees, transportation and personal expenses.
The 2026-27 tuition & fees are explicitly 'pending Board approval. Subject to change.'
Who this school is for
A strong all-around applicant who will live on campus (the $2,000 talent/service add-ons require it) and ideally an Arkansas resident who can stack state ADHE awards; El Dorado Promise students should look at the competitive Murphy Foundation full-ride.
Tuition / cost of attendance: Approximately $61,880 for 2026-2027. Source
Institutional merit aid tiers
Every tier below is sourced to the school’s own published financial aid pages. Renewal terms apply only if the student maintains the stated GPA.
$20,000 and up
Hendrix College Scholarship (Hendrix Achievement-Based Scholarship)
ApplicationRenewable
GPA
Considered (holistic)
SAT
Considered unless test optional
ACT
Considered unless test optional
Requirements & details+
Eligibility
Based on GPA, standardized test scores (unless test optional), leadership and extracurricular activities, recommendations; all accepted students receive an award via holistic review
Notes
Page states a $20,000 floor ('and up') with no published GPA/test grid — did NOT invent one. Renewal terms are not stated on the scholarships page (confirm with aid office).
Full tuition…Full tuition, fees, standard double room and unlimited meal plan (3 recipients); otherwise $4,000
Murphy Foundation Scholarship
Application
View requirements+
Eligibility
Any admitted El Dorado High School student who qualifies for the El Dorado Promise; competitive selection
Notes
Last-dollar award applied after the El Dorado Promise, state aid, and federal Pell. Three students selected competitively; this award REPLACES any previously awarded Hendrix merit-based aid. Students not selected still receive a $4,000 Murphy Foundation Scholarship in addition to existing Hendrix merit.
Outside scholarships reduce loans and/or work-study first; institutional grants are only reduced if required to prevent an over-award.
Verified policy language (2026-07-02): When an outside award changes eligibility for need-based financial aid, Hendrix will first reduce federal work study eligibility, subsidized student loan dollars, or convert subsidized into unsubsidized loans in order to comply with federal regulations. Need-based grants will only be reduced if no other compliance options are available. In no case may a student receive gift aid (grants and/or scholarships) from all sources (Hendrix, federal, state, private) in excess of the total cost of attendance at Hendrix... If the amount of total gift aid from all sources exceeds Hendrix's total cost of attendance, Hendrix gift aid (grants and/or scholarships) will be reduced accordingly.
No hard deadline is published for the Hendrix College Scholarship — all accepted students are automatically considered via holistic review; contact your Hendrix admission counselor. Arkansas state awards are applied for through the ADHE portal, and the Governor's Distinguished amount is set each February.
Is on-campus housing required for the talent awards?
Yes — the Esports, UMYF Leadership, Miller Center Service, and Performing & Fine Arts $2,000/year scholarships all require on-campus housing (Performing & Fine Arts also requires an audition).
What is the full cost of attendance for 2026-27?
$61,880 for 9 months on campus (tuition $40,572; fees $550; loan fees $60; books $900; housing $7,678; food $7,600; transportation $1,520; personal $3,000). Off-campus is $59,110 and living with parent is $52,174.
How Hendrix compares across our verified dataset
145 of 750 verified schools in our dataset use loan-first displacement.
Hendrix is in a recognizable cluster (145 schools share this category). That framing matters when comparing peer schools that may publish the policy differently or not at all.
669 of 750 verified schools publish at least one four-year renewable merit award.
Hendrix is one of them. The cohort minority (81 schools) only awards one-year scholarships, which means the four-year value families assume on a brochure quote isn't guaranteed at every school.
Sources used on this page
Every claim is checked against Hendrix’s own published materials. Below is the full reference set.
